Seattle 2.0: New awards for a new set of startups

Tech companies used to start Bill Gates style, with a couple guys tinkering with wires in a garage.

“Nowadays they are way more than that,” said Marcelo Calbucci, founder of the tech news community Seattle 2.0. “They are so much more consumer-focused, so focused on user experience, usability, great designs, integrations with the phone and Web and everything.

“It’s almost like they become focused on your regular Joe out there. They are not just for geeks anymore.”

To honor the next generation of startups in Seattle, Calbucci created the Seattle 2.0 Awards. Nominations are online and include nods to home-grown hits like foodie review site Urbanspoon, real estate brokerage Redfin, wiki platform Wetpaint and online photo editing suite Picnik.

“Some of these companies might become the next big thing in Seattle, the next Amazon or the next Real Networks,” Calbucci said.

Reflecting changing values in the industry, even award categories are user-focused. Rather than ask who the best startup CEO is, the category asks voters, “Which startup CEO would you like to be the CEO of your *next* startup?”

Voting is public and anonymous and closes April 28. Nearly 7,000 have cast votes so far. The winners, who will get a trophy and public recognition, Calbucci said, will be announced in a May 7 ceremony at the Pacific Science Center.